If you need it, John Lewis probably has it, and other shopping adventures

If you're a Target shopper in the States you'll probably feel at home in John Lewis in the U.K. It's everything Target offers, and a bit more, falling just short of the level of Williams-Sonoma. The arrangement of the merchandise can be puzzling and you'll probably have to ask if you're looking for anything specific, but odds are it's there somewhere. If nothing else the experience was an adventure. It's not the kind of place you find tourists, but if you're looking for something other than the typical Union Jack adorned coffee mug or miniature Buckingham Palace while trying to keep to a budget you can definitely find some unique gifts if you're willing to spend a little time browsing. One of the more significant differences between John Lewis and Target is the presence of multiple dining options, all far superior to an outpost of the local fast food franchise.

Our London shopping always includes a visit to Fortnum & Mason for specialty items that simply
aren't available anywhere else. While some of the inventory can best be classified as over the top, such as a $30,000 bottle of 50 year-old Scotch, most of their offerings are considered luxury items and a few hidden gems are bargains. Even the luxury items present a good value, especially if you're looking for a small gift to bring home. Many of their products are packaged in decorative tins that can be used for any number of things after the contents have been consumed. If you're lucky enough to be in London for an extended stay their cheeses and charcuterie are an amazing treat. You can find wines of all kinds, from verticals of Margeaux ($$$$) to amazing bottles in the sub-$20 range.  The key is to avoid being overwhelmed by the big-ticket items.

Of course we can't visit London without a trip to Hatchard's. The challenge with a trip here is multi-faceted. At the most basic level, it is a struggle to avoid blowing your budget sky-high and it's impossible not to if you are drawn to the rare and first edition section. If you are a collector of rare or old books and they don't have it then the odds are reasonable that they can locate it, assuming it is somewhat available. I dare say they can probably track down just about anything, given enough time. We tend to browse the historical and historical fiction sections, looking for titles that are more difficult to find elsewhere. The second challenge is keeping your luggage within weight constraints for the return trip. Of course, you can carry-on a fair amount, but slogging through an airport loaded down with books is not my idea of an enjoyable journey. On the bright side, books are free of VAT at point of sale and duty-free upon entry to the States, so if the weight issue isn't a concern there are no hidden "gotchas" hiding in the shadows to give you a nasty surprise down the road. If you're looking for something interesting to read about London, the Monarchy, British culture, or British history, then time spent browsing the shelves here will be rewarded.

Just down from Hatchard's, toward Piccadilly Circus, you'll find St James's Church. Dating to the 17th century and designed by Sir Christopher Wren, the churchyard of St. James's now hosts the Piccadilly Market Monday-Saturday. Monday and Tuesday feature a food market with antiques and collectables included on Tuesday and arts & crafts Wednesday-Saturday. It's a delightful place to browse and provides a wonderful opportunity to chat with the stall-keepers.

Another recurring favorite is Liberty of London. Known for impeccable luxury goods and it's Tudor-Revival style building, the Liberty brand is immediately recognizable across the globe. This is a fantastic place to pick up small gifts and, if you are so inclined, to shop for incredible fabrics. When you need a break from shopping Café Liberty on the second floor (third floor, American) provides one of the best afternoon teas in all of London. The Cream tea is our personal favorite, a pot of tea with two generous scones will provide the fuel to keep you going for the rest of the day. If your party consists of shoppers as well as non-shoppers, Shakespeare's Head is a nice pub located just behind Liberty on Carnaby Street that will surely help keep the most ardent non-shopper occupied for many hours.

While it can be a bit touristy, Covent Garden offers a wide variety of shops, pubs, restaurants, and craftspeople where you can find nearly anything imaginable. The London Transport Museum is located in one corner of the neighborhood and St Paul's Church (not to be confused with the Cathedral by the same name) is on the western edge. The Transport Museum is an excellent choice on days with marginal weather and the church yard has plentiful benches for sitting and relaxing in the sun. Just down Garrick Street (in front of St Paul's Church) at the intersection with Strand you'll find the new location of the Whisky Exchange, a can't-miss stop for any whisky lover. Their selection of single malt scotch is simply mind-boggling.